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Take Part In Autism Research

Families and individuals with autism spectrum disorder play a critical role in helping researchers and clinicians better understand the disorder. Find out how you can participate in Interactive Autism Network (IAN) Research in a secure, online setting. By participating, you can help make new discoveries and empower advocates to improve the lives of children and adults with ASD.

Many studies have focused on the "bad news" of parenting a child with autism, such as higher rates of stress and depression. Drawing on her own parenting experience, however, one researcher wanted to know if there is a silver lining to raising a child with autism?

We “neurotypicals” – people who don’t have autism – are social creatures, with set ideas about the proper behavior of others. Are we too quick to judge when someone's behavior doesn't meet our expectations? How does that affect people with autism?

Who hasn't felt the disapproving stares of others when their child with autism was acting differently? Those glares convey the shame, disappointment or rejection that societies around the globe attach to autism. What does stigma mean for people?

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld stepped into a minefield when he diagnosed himself as being on the autism spectrum – "on a very drawn out scale." He complained of problems with social engagement and understanding figures of speech. Were these faint whispers of autism he described similar to the Broad Autism Phenotype?